Demand for new homes fuels rooftop row in Islington

Many residents in Islington have had to contend with the noise and disruption of constant construction work in recent years as the demand for new homes in the capital continues to soar.

That disruption is now taking a fresh twist in some areas as property developers look to add apartments to the roof space of existing buildings.

Many local people have campaigned long and hard against housing projects which they feel will add to the pressures on local services and amenities, so this latest move is only adding to their sense of frustration.

At a time when the cost of rent, mortgages, and various bills is spiralling upwards, many hard-pressed residents feel their views are being sidelined and ignored.

Annabella, 25, moved out of her parents’ home a year ago and now lives in Angel. When looking for flats, one of her main things to look out for was to live in a home where she had no-one living above her, due to previous bad experience of this.

Now she is faced with another floor of apartments potentially being added to her building. She said: “As frustrating as it is,  I will move from my current home if there are building works that could take place’.”

Another example of this situation is Maria, who is 75 years old and lives on her own in a flat in Finsbury Park.

She said that the constant noise she had to endure for a couple of years now due to works around her area has been frustrating. “It has not been peaceful for some time, to say the least, but it is really out of my control and somehow I’m just used to it.”

Featured image by @karenuppal via Unsplash.